Summer 2023 Fellow: N/A

Summer 2022 Fellow: David Lee, Environmental Systems Engineering BS ‘24

Learn more about David’s experience:

This fellowship is part of a partnership between Stanford in Government, the Precourt Institute for Energy, and the Bill Lane Center for the American West. If you are accepted as a fellow for this office, you will be required to complete a one-unit course on energy in California taught by Professor Bruce Cain and Visiting Fellow Felcia Marcus. 

Program requirement:

Take a one-unit workshop spring course, ‘Energy Policy in California and the West’ taught by Bruce Cain that will provide an in-depth analysis of the role of California state agencies, the Western Interstate Energy Board, and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council in driving energy policy development, technology innovation, and market structures. Course number is CEE 263G / POLISCI 73 / PUBLPOL 73 / ENERGY 73.

Schedule: Wednesdays from 9:30 am – 10:20 am. (Please note: You can only enroll in the course after getting approved for the fellowship and receiving a permission number.) Please refer to the Shultz Energy Fellowships website for the most up-to-date information about the course.

The fellowships run from Monday, June 24, 2024 to Friday, August 30, 2024. If a potential mentor(s) is listed in the posting, address your cover letter to this person(s).

Organization/Agency mission or role in state government:

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is charged with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change. CARB’s mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. CARB is the lead agency for climate change programs and oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health-based air quality standards. CARB leads by driving innovative solutions to improve public health and the environment. From requirements for clean cars and fuels to adopting innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, California has pioneered a range of effective approaches that have set the standard for effective air and climate programs for the nation and the world.

Potential Projects:

Based on their interests and skills, the selected fellow will have the opportunity to select one of the two projects below in consultation with their mentor at CARB. The selected student will also spend 5-10% of their time, attending relevant meetings with stakeholders and taking notes for Chair Liane Randolph.

Project #1: Assist Freight Technology Advancement Branch (FTAB), Transportation and Toxics Division, with the development of a model to assess energy and power demand of a major railyard operating zero emission locomotives. Assist FTAB identifying and collecting the metrics required for the model.

Areas of interest: 

  • Model use of one or more zero-emission (battery-electric) locomotives within a major railyard:
    • Time-of-use and scheduling options for charging
    • Modeling energy demand in order to charge a locomotive prior to it leaving the railroad along a designated route
    • Total energy demand 

Project #2: Assist Freight Technology Advancement Branch (FTAB), Transportation and Toxics Division, with analyzing the adoption of zero emission drayage trucks and identifying the challenges. Assist FTAB perform comprehensive analysis on the drayage fleet, zero emission equipment market penetration, and predictive analytics. The analysis will utilize various CARB data and DMV data.

Areas of interest:

  • Analyze initial zero emission drayage truck market penetration
  • Perform predictive analytics for zero emission drayage truck adoption

Project #3: Assist Freight Technology Advancement Branch (FTAB), Transportation and Toxics Division, with assessment and quantification of overhead catenary system (OCS) in California. The analysis will include an estimated length of route that 

Areas of interest:

  • Revise the current estimates of OCS installation cost considering the following:
    • Advancement of technologies such as battery-OCS dual-mode locomotives
    • Recent trends in battery cost and capacity
  • Estimate length of route that may be electrified through battery electric locomotives vs OCS
  • Analyze how the use of dual-mode affects the project costs

Desired Skills:

  • Basic understanding of California’s efforts for clean air and climate change protection and the role of public policy
  • General knowledge of environmental management and of CARB and its function in the context of regulatory policy and setting emission standards for vehicles, engines, and equipment
  • Strong communication skills (both written and oral)
  • A demonstrated desire to work in a team environment and to learn from seasoned, expert practitioners and creators of internationally-recognized environmental policies for mobile sources
  • A major in engineering, the physical sciences, and/or public policy is applicable background for this fellowship.

Work Environment

It is anticipated that this fellowship opportunity will be hybrid (in-person and remote). The California Air Resources Board is located in Sacramento, CA.

Please note that the anticipated work environment is subject to change. 

Eligibility

This fellowship is open to undergraduate students.
All Shultz fellows must be enrolled in the spring quarter before their fellowship.

Potential Mentor

  • Ajay Mangat, Chief, Freight Technology Advancement Branch

Stipend Amount

$7,500-$9,500

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